Lifeline: my story · worksheet 117
Imagine your life is a book. Each major stage is a chapter, with a beginning, an end and a title. Looking at it this way helps you see how your story moves forward.
Before you start
- What it is for: To give meaning and continuity to your story, especially after a major change.
- 20-30 minutes.
- There is no right way to divide your life: you decide where each chapter starts and ends.
- You can change the titles later.
Prefer paper? Download the PDF to print (with a page for psychologists).
What to do with your results
Notice how you move from one chapter to the next and what you take with you each time.
If you find it hard
If you don’t know where to divide it, start from the big changes: a place, a school, a job, a relationship.
For psychologists
The PDF also includes a page for the psychologist: how to run the exercise in session, points to watch and scientific references. You are free to use it with your clients.
For psychologists: aim, audience and duration
Organise the life story into major stages and give them a title, which supports the coherence of the narrative and the search for meaning.
Transitions (moving house, separation, retirement, life abroad), a feeling of discontinuity, work on identity. Duration: 20-30 min.
References
McAdams, D. P. (2008). The Life Story Interview. The Foley Center for the Study of Lives, Northwestern University.
McAdams, D. P. (2001). The psychology of life stories. Review of General Psychology, 5(2), 100-122.
McLean, K. C., Pasupathi, M. & Pals, J. L. (2007). Selves creating stories creating selves: A process model of self-development. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 11(3), 262-278.
These worksheets do not replace therapy. If you are in distress or having suicidal thoughts, call your local emergency number (112 in Europe; 3114 in France, free, 24/7).
Free worksheet for non-commercial use: you may share it with credit to the author, without modifying it (Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence).
